The Hindu : Front Page : Entrance tests to be held on time

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Sunday, Jan 07, 2007
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Entrance tests to be held on time

Special Correspondent

No new legislation to replace professional colleges Act: Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The entrance tests for admissions to professional courses will be held in April as scheduled, Education Minister M.A. Baby said here on Saturday.

The Minister was talking to the media after discussions with Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and party colleagues on the course of action to be taken in view of the High Court order striking down key provisions of the professional colleges Act.

Mr. Baby said the Government did not propose to bring new legislation to replace the Act. However, the question of bringing an Ordinance to provide for reservation to the scheduled and backward communities would be considered. The Government would discuss the issue in the Left Democratic Front, and if necessary with the United Democratic Front, to arrive at a consensus. The consultations would begin immediately.

The Government had already decided to go in appeal before the Supreme Court against the High Court order. If the apex court gave an interim order on reservation, the Government would go by that. He said the prospectus for the entrance test would be issued this month. However, the admission procedure would be announced separately in view of the confusion over the matter.

Mr. Baby said that the Government was never averse to talks with the managements of self-financing professional colleges. It was the managements of private medical colleges who had withdrawn from talks.

He said that the court verdict did not prevent the regulatory and supervisory bodies specified in the Act from overseeing the admissions and fee structure. He hoped that they would act to ensure a fair deal to students.

He recalled that the Assembly had passed the legislation unanimously to ensure social equity. The law had provisions to check exploitation of students and misuse of minority status by private managements. Several institutions had been seeking minority status to bypass laws and regulations.

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